and fervency he uttered to them and then being weary he lay down to rest and said Oh Mother slighty Convictions are dangerous temptations lead to sin and sin bereaves of all good And to the Maid who had kept him from his Cradle and instructed him till he came to his Latine tongue HONOUR I hope God will work a work of Grace in you and make you that you shall not be ashamed to confess him and then blessed the Lord for his own mercy in his Parents with many endeared expressions especially for their care of his soul afterwards said unto them all The Lord keep you I desire that the Lord may keep you all And his Mother staying by him he said Mother I love your company dearly and so speedily fell asleep and slept comfortably the greatest part of that night The two and twentieth day he brakefast with his Father and as their manner was of late one of them began and the other ended with blessing the Lord wherein he very thankfully owned his great supports from God and ardently desired if it pleased the Lord to spare him it might be to serve him faithfully in his Generation That day he was perswaded to rise a little in Blankets whilst his Bed was made when be said I feel to my self like a peice of earth I am as nothing and admired greatly the power of God keeping him alive Being laid again in his bed he said I feel my self very weak but I am kept alive by the mighty power of God saying Father God is very good to me indeed the Lord loves me I am sure And to his Mother Oh how am I refreshed but if God were not my God what should I do now His Mother asking him how he had done to day he said Indeed Mother I have been supported very much to day Oh this is a troublesome world a vain world nothing the eye beholds can stand us in stead I can now triumph over death God hath enabled me I would not now be without what now I enjoy for all the world Mentioning that Scripture Greater love can no man shew than for a man to lay down his Life for his Friend c. And that blessed are the dead that die in the Lord they rest from their labours c. And expressing his affection to his Parents which he did often he asked his Father affectionately the meaning of that Scripture But for a good man one would even dare to die and so applied to sleep in much peace and joy The twenty third day he complained of some weakness in his body but said He was strong in God but desired some living creature might stand on the bed by him to prevent Melancholly thoughts when he could not rest being asked what He said a young Lamb Pigeon Rabbit or any thing but a Squerril being named hoping it might easily be procured he was earnest for that having he said never seen any but once in the field Some were immediately imployed to procure one at any rate but all failed and his mind seemed to run so much that day and the next upon it that his Father said why dost thou so much desire it He said I find my self inclining to melancholy and I think such a thing would be pretty company for me and therein I may see the workmanship of God but I trust nothing shall evermore take off my heart from God At breakfast with his Father he had savoury discourse some of which his Father set down when he went out from him in his own words whilst they were in memory viz. Oh Father God greatly supports me I would not be without the love of God now for all this world if I die now I hope I shall meet with you in Heaven which is best of all His Father said Dost thou think thou shalt die He answered I cannot tell Father but I expect it for I have resigned my self to God His eldest Sister coming to him he said God hath done for us what man could not do with his eyes lifted up with holy admiration saying also Oh how said is it with those that have not God That day being taken up a little to have his bed made and finding it troublesome all his bones being sharp as if they would pierce his skin having no flesh to interpose in any part he uttered a word savouring of more weariness and impatience than any before namely It is better for me now to dye than to live His Father said nay Child be not weary of â—he Lords hand who hath done so great â—hings for you He accepted the Exhorâ—ation so as to be presently abased for it and did then upon occasion of taking refreshment solemnly pray for pardon oâ— the rash word he had spoken as he called it humbly begging more patience that hâ— might be kept from repining and owning the great goodness of the Lord to him his pooâ— unworthy servant Being laid in Bed and asked how he did he said His Bones were sore and he wâ—â— weak in his outward man but strong in God and indeed he very seldom complained oâ— sighed And when at any time his Father did remember him what God haâ— done for his soul he presently forgot hiâ— pain and was refreshed with very sensible acknowledgement of the favour oâ— God so that sometimes when he would say his Bones were sore his Father would reply I Child but your soul is not tâ— which he would say No Father God â—â— very good to me and dwelt so thereon as tâ— forget pain And speaking of the Lovâ— of God would say often chearfully now â—â— experience it He had a pretty good night The 24th day in the morning he waâ— pretty chearful and breakefast with his Father but eating little he said I do nâ—â— live by bread only His Mother asking hiâ— consent to go abroad he was very desirous of her stay with him but when â—â— heard it was for prayer he did more freely part with her His Father sitting in the Room he said Father God hath setled my mind greatly this day and I have nothing â—ow to hinder my joy in Christ Iesus But Father said he Though God hath sweetned death to them that he loves yet do not you think that death is troublesome His Father replied Yes Child a little to the flesh to which he answered cheerfully Yea Father and was no more solicitous He was willing in the Evening some Christians might meet in his Room and finding himself weak desired them to pray for him being asked what he desired he said That he might live in Gods sight His Father asked him if he did still freeâ—y resign up himself to the Lords dispose â—or Life or Death he answered chearfully Yea Father His Father further asked him if he had met with any assault against â—â—t he answered No he had not But shortly after he had a faint fit in which he called to his Father to come quickly to
would be giving something to help which he perceiving earnestly said Oh pray Father do not give me any thing for indeed Father I cannot take any thing but it will stop my passage The Maid said he tryed and could get nothing down which he confirmed his Father being not able to refrain seeing his alteration in countenance and violent labour by cough gushed out into tears which the Child seeing cryed out also and looking towards him said earnestly with weeping Pray Father do not weep but pray for me I long to be with God and desiring again his Father might pray with him he applyed to it briefly in too much trouble the Child strove much to refrain coughing laid himself back a little looked up and seemed to joyn fervently his Mother being also then called came in quickly to whom he said looking upon her when even spent Farewel dear Mother now I am going and to a Friend coming in Farewell dear Sir and the flegm as it was thought coming up into his mouth but carried back again through the length and toughness thereof his Father contented with his Mother and the Friend 's talking comfortably unto him was in great care for him and unwilling to give the Oyl of Almonds and Syrups at hand through his aversness to it ran down for something inoffensive for his relief and coming up instantly saw him thrusting first his finger and then his whole hand into his mouth to catch the flegm and hearing or seeing his Father coming cryed quickly as if he expected to take something O Father what shall I do but immediately as his Father came to him lay back and looking up said God God endeavouring to have uttered more but without groan his breath failing as if choaked with flegm he seemed as by consent to yeeld up the Spirit leaving to the last a very living evidence of the most general change and lively turning to God wholly that his Parents have experienced whereof these fragments gathered from him at last are but a taste of the great Grace granted to him in all heavenly wisdom and knowledge who being dead yet speaketh to the great reproof of his Parents in their shortness to him and of him under so much longer profession and for more full improvement of him whose swift race towards his latter end is impartially set forth uprightly for the sake of Youth and elder than he that may not yet meet Death with his Comfort and Composure so considerately hoping one good end of the Lords removing him may be for the more safe setting forth this part of an account of him through grace to the provoking of many to turn to the Lord which was the greatest end of his desiring to live beseeching all wisely to consider it and duly ponder Eccles. 9. 10. What soever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest which was through God of great advantage to him By his near Relation An Acrostick CAll to my Burial my Aquaintance young And let them hear what Grace hath done for me Let them allured be by my sweet Song Eternal through Unchangeable Decree Because through Grace by Faith I am made free Vnto the highest praise of God on high Exalt the Prince of Peace in whom I rest Redeeming Mercy made my soul desie Not only Death but ev'ry other test Of my unfained Love at twelve years old No weakness wit nor fear could make it cold In proof whereof bare bones did sacrifice Vnto my Lord the way this world despise And had I liv'd Methusalem's long day Vnto Him should my Soul subjection pay Pro. 10. 7. The memory of the Just is blessed I. V. An Anagram CALEB VERNON Nue Noble Race A New and Noble Race he ran so fast That he o're-took the swiftest Saint at last He ran in earnest to the Refuge City And therein found escape defence pity And underneath the Everlasting Arms Which did support his Soul from fear of harms Indeed he ran as Caleb ran to find The promis'd Land when Isr'el lagg'd behind His Teachers wanted strength to keep him pace He out-ran Parents in his Noble Race As if the Angels had lent him a Wing To run with them in Love to Israels King Like the young Lad which Zechary sets forth With measuring-Line wherein did lie his worth In which the Angels ever do retain Their glory as their waiting doth remain Inviron'd in the Word and Will of God Which was indeed dear Caleb's choicest food And seeing he so follow'd his dear Master I would not faint although he ran much faster But for my Children and my Soul must weep That we instead of running so do creep In twelve dayes and an half from Iordans joy He did more than in twelve years ere did I. But grace perhaps did each day for a year Seal him a Pattent in return of Prayer For Life chiefly that Converts he might make And took him hence for the Election sake That safely this might be set forth of him And he not hazarded hereby to sin For few can bear his praise and few reproof But both I trust hereby shall now help Youth To their Conversion like to Caleb's then To this dispose of him I 'le add Amen But until then excuse me if I weep That yet I live and Caleb fell asleep For else I fear great evils yet to come And such remov'd that Iudgment may have room But may the Mouths of Babes Hosannahs fill The Enemy and th' Avenger must be still The Lord make Caleb's Cluster then in truth The first-fruits of his harvest amongst Youth And stir up Aged too to swifter pace By this Example in the Noble Race J. V. From a very dear Relation An Acrostick CAn Caleb stay when God will have him go Away to Caleb and himself also Loe he a Child yet Christian did become Er 't pleas'd his Father for to call him home But was no sooner new-born but he dies Unto the Lord a most sweet sacrifice E'ne unto him that made him twice to live Render he did what er'e he had to give Name Spirit Soul and Body though but poor Offerd up all What could a Prince do more Now to the Lord alone be praise therefore W. A. An Anagram CALEB VERNON An Noble Cure THou Lord on him hast wrought A Noble Cure From World Flesh Devil thus to set him free His Soul ful sweetly to thee to allure To make him happy to Eternity A Cure so Noble that it shall remain On days to come to praise of thy rich grace Who never undertook'st a Cure in vain Among the Seed of holy Jacob's Race Physician of great value Lord art thou And vertue also from thy Wings is found For healing sin-sick-souls none else knows how As thou of every desperate mortal wound Which to thy praise for ever shall redound W. A. From his own friend his Fathers friend
CALEB VERNON Anagram Bor'e unclean Nue clean Robe Through Adams nature I Unclean was bor'e Through Grace betimes Christs Nue clean Robe I wore BY Nature in my first estate A wretched Babe was I In open field deserving hate In blood and filth did lie And in that state I did delight As in my sport and play And therein would with all my might Have wallow'd night and day And though from gross enormities I might by men be clear'd Yet to my Maker's searching eyes Defil'd I all appear'd Though Nature with a pregnant wit And comliness adorn'd me And Education adds to it To teach restrain reform me What prov'd it but a feigned paint On much defiling sin It did not kill but lay restraint Where outrage would begin A pleasant picture to the eye I hereby might appear By which to close Idolatry Some might be drawn I fear But God that faithful he might be That deadly snare would break And that right early unto me His Grace and Peace might speak With tenderness on these intents He strips me of my Vail My costly Cov'rings all he rents My Countenance makes pale My Comliness to rot he turns My witty words to groans My moisture up with drought he burns Discloseth all my bones And in a day of publick ire Me these rebukes did meet When Pestilence as burning fire Slew thousands at his feet I who to blossom did begin With such fair paint before Now as the early fruit of sin This character I wore Despised Idol broke to earth A potsherd no way fit To take up fire out of the hearth Or water from the pit But though near corruptible dust This curious Frame was brought By gracious pleasure stay I must Till noble works were wrought Till deep convictions of my sin Till Jesus form'd in me Till as my portion I begin The Lord 's dear Christ to see Till all my sins were done away Till terrors made to cease Till heart and mind could sweetly stay In thought surpassing peace Nay till in an accepted day My homage I could bring And in his instituted way Devote me to the King Till Christ put on his Truths allow'd His dying marks imbrace His Cause confest his Works avow'd His Sufferings boldly face His Promises for a portion took Saints for companions chose And on him set a fixed look For future free dispose Since then in an unusual way Rich Grace hath thus array'd me And in my young yet dying day With glory overlaid me What properly could I desire But now dissolv'd to be And in this Marriage choice attire My Bridegrooms face to see In Kedar who would not bemoan If there he must reside Ah wretched man who would not groan In sinful flesh to bide Who ' ld lodg in such a nasty shade As torturing tottering stands That hath a Palace ready made Not with polluted hands Where sin temptation suffring strife shall fully be destroy'd All dying swallow'd up of life And God at full enjoyd What aile my Parents then to weep My friends to be dismayd Relations such a do to keep To see a Child unray'd It s filthy garments layd in dust It lay'd repose to take Until the morning when it must With Royal Robes awake May this a witness be to Truth In this backsliding day A Christal Mirrour unto Youth How to amend its way A. C. By an old and honorable Disciple of Christ in the same Congregation who dearly loved him and is since also himself fallen asleep in Jesus and in the Hope of the Resurrection to glory by him I Cannot I adorn thy Sable Hearse With any lofty straind Heroick Verse Nor blaze thy praise with Heraldry Divine This thou at chievd'st among the Saints betime And left'st thy Name an Odour sweet to those That with Christ Iesus and his Truth did close Thou likewise an Example wast to all That knew thee rightly were they great or small Christ gave thee grace by grace thou didst conceive A saving Faith by saving Faith didst live At twelve years old indeed thou couldst dispute And readily some learned ones confute A truly Calebs Spirit was thee given To follow Christ on Earth and into Heaven We now thy Heavenly glories may recite Oh that in us might be the joyes we write That what thou dost enjoy in full a taste Have here we may to stir us up to haste To be with thee that so from troubles here In bliss we may be plac'd where is no fear What lowder grief with such an Emphasis Struck through some Ears to hear what Corps is this What flocks of Saints were crowding oh what storms Rest in their looks Grief wandred through all Forms For thee dear Soul But seeing that the Loss Is only ours let us the grief ingross And fly to Christ with whom is all relief That by him stayd may be our flowing grief Now judge Spectators if you do believe Whether all those that knew him may not grieve Parents and Brother Sisters and Church Members For this great loss both sighs and sorrow tenders There 's cause enough yet friends be all content And make his Life and Death your President John Symonds Senior Prov. 23. 23 24 25. Buy the Truth and sell it not also Wisdom and Instruction and Understanding The father of the Righteous shal greatly rejoyce and he that begetteth a wise Child shall have joy of him Thy father and thy mother shall be glad and she that bare thee shall rejoyce To all that love the Lord Iesus in sincerity The Testimony of two or three Witnesses to the truth of the fore-going Treatise THis that now comes to your hand is a little part as a few fragments of that full table those were entertained with that had the blessing of being nigh that little one which is here presented to you the truth of which for the most part we can testifie having been eye and ear witnesses of these things What it is we truly desire it may be blest unto you to the ends designed by the Author of this little Book It being the main If not the only end why this little follower of God desired to live It may be the breathings from that heart that so much longed being converted to convert others may be of use though imparted at the second hand we have seen made good Pro. 14. 27. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of Life c. And He that believeth in me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water John 7. 31. Some of us have been much convinced by what we saw what bare conversions there are in the world and how far short of believing as the Scripture hath said most men and women are that leaves them so short of the Spirit hinted 1 Pet. 2. 7. We have been too much strangers to that Faith that worketh by love and puts us under Gospel-constraints To live to him that died for us and rose again God hath rebuked this Generation
in this little one who served his Generation by the will of God and fell asleep He came to Christ as a poor miserable vile undone sinner and to pass through the straight gate he wisely disburthened himself of what was gross and bulkie He became indeed as a little Child and was so fiâ—ted to enter into the Kingdome of Heaven having first unlearned what he attained in his Education and other accomplishments like Phil. 3. 7. He learned of the Father to come to Christ as John 6. 45. to a whole Christ whom he embraced heartily and followed fully and is upon the advantage of that good welcome Mat. 25. 21 23. Parents take then this encouragement to train up your Children in the admonition and fear of the Lord and observe what is said in the Preface to this Book for your help in this thing And Children let this Example perswade you to remember your Creator in the dayes of your Youth This Labour on your behalf as it hath our witness to the truth of it above hinted and our commendations to you for the matter of it as seasonable and useful so it shall have our â—â—â—uest before the Throne of God that it may not be a further witness against you Remembring Prov. 13. 13. but a special advantage in Gods hand unto your Salvation and furtherance in his will To his grace we commit it and you being alwayes willing to approve our selves Yours truly longing for your souls present and eternal good W. S. T. G. I. W. FINIS Why called Caleb His aptness at 4 6 years old and observance of parents His first sick-bed convictions at 7 years old His Fathers way to avoid affliction bringeth him aud his family thereinto and how Caâ—ebs early share in unreasonable afflictions under natural fearfulness before Inward and outward trobles together carry him to prayer christian correspondency The wisdome of his first Letter at 10 years old admired by his friend His second Letter at large in answer to his friend Being at peace amongst civil School-fellows he was less serious but revived under the Word at London Scrupled Heathen School Authors seriously Love to Scripture allays his love to School and why More sick bed convictions and the effects Providence preventing Country setling again His desire of return to London and why Afflicting Providences work stil for true good to him The quickening effect of applying family instruction more particularly The motives to his Mothers writing his sayings at last Soul-instruction preferred before health or life and the fruit which followed John 6. Psa. 42. 5 Isa. 2. Grace giveth ease begets abasemeÌ„t Psal. 119. Solitary seasons sweet slavish fear subdued 2 Cor. 4. 17. Litle sins lye heavy on a sincere soul. Great refreshment by Grace His incouragement to an honest prisoner His love-feast and entertain ment of friends His desire of obedience His importunity to confess to Christ after he believed His complaint impatience His Confession of Faith ☞ ☞ Psal. 51. 13. ☞ His former Conversation His pursuit of convictions His patients and support His inquiry after prayer He cannot be satisfied to defer obedience after Conviction His thigh measured not full 4. inches about Chearfully sheweth all his strength to prevail with his father that he might be obedient Boasteth in God admired grace for temporal and eternal mercy His holy converse His usual meal and chearful frame thereat Friends advise his baptisme Considerations of his fathers consent Further objection His impatience to obey His joy in consent His joy abated but the Objecter admitted His great discouragement His confidence His prayer on the occasion Weather favoreth His undauntedness with humility His extraordinary assistance thankful observance The preparation His grace in and after the ordinance An humbling sentence of death His eminent reviving and reverent publick thanksgiving prayer His joy in Gods assistance and experience of â—â— when he could not express it His hope on the behalf of God for the friend who last objected 2 Iohn 4. 3 John 4. Another humbling providence in his renew ed weakness His tender care of the Name of God and his Parents if he should die so soon after Baptisme His stedfastness under weakness His familiarity with death by Grace His pitty for the World and disesteem of their glory His modest bespeaking holy converse to express his sence of mercy with joyfulness He puts away childish things Paproacheth reverently to the Lords Supper His comfort encreases in the Word Prayr His seasonable and serious Questions to his sister and the successe through Grace ☜ His prayer after meat His answer about Jam. 5. 14. being doubtful therein How he expressed his provocation Admires Grace signifieth his Assurance His reconcilement and entertain ment of those he had repro ved for molesting him The 2d course for their souls ☞ The sweet fruit of his own assurance humbly brought forth to incourage them to feed His whol some melody at the end His gratious farwel at parting with his Guests When he was weak then he was strong His hancor after a living Creature and why His disposition suitable to true resignation A little impatience begetting speedy and deep abasment through grace His usual ease in paine His setled minde in supposing dissolution Sudainly grows weaker yet strong in God An humbling providence by the hand of one who dearly loved him An hour of temptation A good providence to his and his Parents great satisfaction His fresh revivings and humble desire for life to gracious ends Great patience His great Cordial His notice of death after refreshing rest and his behaviour in time of departure particularly His Parents evidence upon their experienc of him The true end of publishing this after his death being his own end of desiring life * Psal. 130. 20